The Polish Prime Minister announced on Friday a series of measures called the “anti-Putin shield”, aimed, according to him, to “derussify the Polish and European economy”, curb inflation, protect employment and resist Moscow's “gas blackmail”.
“We will work to de-russify the Polish and European economy, because Poland is today at the forefront of all those countries that seek to inspire others to get out of dependence on Russian gas, oil and coal,” Mateusz Morawiecki said during a press conference.
The objective of the “anti-Putin shield” is to resist “the impact of Putin's gas blackmail” and above all to “prevent the rise in food prices,” he said.
The State will invest three billion zlotys ($704 million) in the state-owned company Gaz System, which builds and operates the gas pipelines and gas terminal at the port of Swinoujscie, Morawiecki announced.
Gaz System is building, in particular, the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline, which should bring Norwegian gas to Poland by the end of the year and reduce the country's dependence on Russian gas.
To contain the already strong increase in food prices, the State will pay farmers, affected by the rise in fertilizer prices, an allocation of 500 zlotys (just over one hundred dollars) per hectare of arable land and half that amount per hectare of pasture.
This aid will be limited to 50 hectares per holding.
Among the other sectors of the economy affected by the consequences of the war in Ukraine and the Western sanctions against Russia, Morawiecki cited road transport, where Poland is very present in Europe.
Asked about the purchase of Russian coal and a potential embargo, he said “expect courageous decisions from the European Commission,” noting that Poland sought to supply in South Africa, Australia, Colombia and the United States “where we are not blackmailed.”
via/eb/mab/eg